Theft Investigations

Reference Number

This Theft Investigations & Recovery Analyst will report to the Settlement & Data Assurance Manager and will work within the Commercial Services directorate based in our Crawley office. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a salary of £35,642.00 and a bonus of 7.5%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote

Close Date: 04/06/2024

We also provide the following additional benefits

• Annual Leave
• Personal Pension Plan - Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit scheme
• Tax efficient benefits: cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On - scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers products.
• Discounted access to sports and social clubs
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Job Purpose:

To coordinate UK Power Networks' activities in countering the abstraction of electricity from our distribution system termed Theft in Conveyance (TiC). You will validate leads and collaborating with numerous parties, authorising work instructions and managing our investigations contractor. There is a significant public safety element. Confirmed instances will require collaborating with our Network Operations directorate, facilitating rectification and registration of premises, determining compensation recoveries and negotiating financial closure agreements with counterparties. Additionally, to provide ad-hoc support to the scheduling and outcome-processing of a large-scale safety-driven inspection programme.

Dimensions

The Settlement and Data Assurance team consists of six persons and resolves up to 1000 in-progress Theft in Conveyance cases and financial recoveries of typically £1m per year. The team also supports the delivery of idle service safety inspections.

Principal Accountabilities:

1. You will Implement and continue to develop processes, methods and systems within Income Management and across the wider business to improve UK Power Network's ability to counter Theft in Conveyance and maintain compliance with our Legal and Regulatory obligations.
2. You will manage the analysis of incoming theft leads from multiple sources collaborating with electricity suppliers, UK Revenue Protection Association, Crimestoppers' Energy Theft Tip-Off Service, UK Power Networks operational staff, the MPAN Management Team, MPAS Enquiry and others to determine suspected instances and convert appropriate leads into Work Instructions.
3. Responsible for the issue of Work Instructions to the external contractor ensuring that any health and safety issues are highlighted so facilitating necessary prioritisation or appropriate mitigation measures; engage with operatives while on site and on the basis of information provided make decisions as to their next actions.
4. Communicate with operational staff on the acceptability of in-situ connections and, where applicable, any emergency works necessary to protect public safety and maintain the integrity of our networks.
5. Trace property owners and occupiers, correspond and foster the supplier-registration of Meter Point Administration Numbers (MPANs) or, where deemed necessary, applications for connection upgrade or authentication of 'Building Network Operator' arrangements before MPAN issue.
6. Identify and trace culpable parties, research all relevant aspects, draw well-considered conclusions from different data sources, calculate compensation demands, prepare supporting paperwork and present cases to the Compensation Review Panel.
7. Lead on engagement with compensation counterparties, resolve any issues, disputes or complaints so far as possible without creating escalations and negotiate settlements within the delegated financial limits.
8. Manage Theft in Conveyance management reporting.
9. Quality assure the actions of the external contractor providing regular reports on their performance to senior management and conduct payment-processing validation and appropriate auditing of their activities.
10. Competent to represent UK Power Networks at relevant forums or industry groups whether as a regular delegate or to provide stand-in/alternate cover.
11. Identify beneficial developments to IT systems, prepare business cases and specify/develop system changes and/or service provider requirements.
12. Responsible for business forecasting of Idle Service safety inspections cooperating with our Asset Management directorate and issue Idle jobs into our scheduling process.
13. Collate returned Idle Service inspection results developing appropriate techniques for their efficient processing and all associated reporting thereof.
14. Work in accordance to and maintain process documentation in compliance with company standards and ISO 9001.
15. Work with the other members of the team to provide an integrated, cohesive unit offering total flexibility to fulfil business, regulatory and industry projects.

Qualifications:

• Either through direct qualification or relevant experience of graduate calibre.
• Experience in an appropriate commercial analytical or fraud/investigative role; alternatively relevant experience within the energy sector.
• Produce concise and accurate reports and correspondence with a high level of attention to detail.
• An excellent communicator, able to influence via written reports and through delivery of presentations.
• Experienced in customer relationships and with strong negotiation skills.
• Proficient working in a team environment; prior experience of supervising the work of others and delivering training would be an advantage.
• Numerate with knowledge of Excel; experience in Access and the use of other customised database applications or reporting systems (e.g. Business Objects) beneficial.

Nature and Scope:

You will work with other team members to identify, investigate and resolve situations of Theft in Conveyance from UK Power Networks' Distribution System. You will determine cases to pursue, issuing Work Instructions to contractors to undertake field work. You will act as an in-house expert on Theft in Conveyance being a point of reference for the wider business.

You will need to understand the different types of situation where Theft in Conveyance may arise, their possible effects for public safety and the regulatory and commercial drivers on UK Power Networks. You will need to organise their own work schedule which must involve planning on their part to ensure that best use of their time is made. Knowledge of the work of the wider team is important so that support can be offered.

Following investigation and resolution you will calculate our compensation demands and engage with the counterparties to secure appropriate payments. You will establish external relationships in these very challenging situations and use their judgment and skills with minimal reference to the Settlement and Data Assurance Manager to guide through resolutions and agree settlements that meet our needs. You will work with UK Power Networks Legal to resolve complex situations or escalations to achieve target outcomes.

You will further use your experience to identify developments to theft systems and processes, prepare business cases and specify system changes and/or service provider requirements as appropriate.

In addition to the primary theft activities you will also help to support the department's involvement with a cross-business safety inspection programme providing scheduling, forecasting and outcome-processing activities and partnering with Asset Management and operational staff.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

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